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raucous

raucous

31 7.1
Making a loud, rough, and unpleasant sound that hurts your ears
  • adjective
  • /ˈrɔːkəs/
translation icon : estridente
  • The festival was marked by raucous music and loud cheers from the crowd.
  • raucous crowd
  • raucous cries
  • raucous call

It's just like such a crazy, raucous wild thing.

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Examples

  • The concert was held at another venue and attracted close to 4,000 raucous students.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The ladies were jubilant these days, raucous even, the sugar running through their veins like sap.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • We hear a band inside playing a raucous music hall number.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Never in my 30 years of managing this camp have I seen such a raucous display.

  • The world around us is full of raucous chatter and noise.

  • All the colleagues who were interviewed were appalled at his constant raucous laugh.

  • We are booming down to the dance floor as a raucous band plays an up-tempo tune.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Evenings will be spent listening to everything from raucous toads to roaring lions.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The B section repeated with one of the cellists adding a loud and raucous vocal improvisation.

    Academic text (2015)
  • In a few years time, Armstrong, Coleman, Hawkins, Duke Ellington, and more will all fly to fame, providing the soundtrack to the restless and raucous Jazz Age.

Synonyms

noisy
vsraucous
125 1.0

Full of loud, unpleasant sounds

is loud and unpleasant but not only about quantity of noise
harsh
vsraucous
47 3.9

Very strong and unpleasant to the senses, like bright light or bitter taste

is loud and unpleasant but emphasizes volume more than general severity
rowdy
vsraucous
34 3.6

Making a lot of noise and disturbing other people

is loud and unpleasant but focuses on behavior rather than sound alone
shrill
vsraucous
31 4.8

A very high, sharp sound that is unpleasant and loud

is loud and unpleasant but not mainly piercing or very high
resounding
vsraucous
23 4.9

Very loud and clear, or very strong and complete when talking about success

is loud and unpleasant but not usually clear or echoing
strident
vsraucous
22 7.2

Very loud and harsh in a way that feels unpleasant

is loud and harsh but less aggressively forceful
jarring
vsraucous
20 6.1

A loud, harsh sound that feels unpleasant and surprising

is loud and unpleasant but often lacks sudden startling effect
thunderous
vsraucous
15 4.1

A very loud, deep sound like thunder

is loud and unpleasant but less about enormous power or rumble
raspy
vsraucous
13 5.8

A rough, harsh voice or sound that feels unpleasant to hear

is loud and harsh but not necessarily rough in voice
gravelly
vsraucous
7 6.5

A low, rough voice that sounds harsh and scratchy

is loud and harsh but not focused on low pitch or depth
cacophonous
vsraucous
2 8.4

Making a loud, harsh noise that is unpleasant to hear

is loud and harsh but not necessarily multiple clashing tones
blaring
vsraucous
1 4.4

A very loud, unpleasant sound that hurts your ears

is loud and harsh but less focused on extreme volume
rip-roaring
vsraucous
  • Informal
1 7.3

Very noisy and full of lively activity

is loud and unpleasant while this is more energetic and fun
uproarious
vsraucous
1 6.5

Very noisy and full of loud joyful sounds like cheering

is loud and unpleasant but not typically joyful or laughter based
grating
vsraucous
1 6.2

A harsh, unpleasant sound or voice that is hard to listen to

is loud and unpleasant but not mainly about irritating texture
squawky
vsraucous
1 7.5

A loud harsh sound like a bird's cry that is unpleasant

is loud and unpleasant but not specifically high or birdlike
cacophonic
vsraucous
1 9.3

Has a loud, harsh sound that is unpleasant

is loud and harsh but less about many clashing noises
shrieky
vsraucous
1 7.2

Making a very high, loud, annoying sound that hurts your ears

is loud and unpleasant but not specifically very high pitched
screamy
vsraucous
1 8.2

Very loud and high in sound like a scream

is loud and unpleasant but not always like a loud cry
clangorous
vsraucous
1 8.9

Making a loud, ringing sound like metal hitting metal

is loud and unpleasant but not specifically metallic or clanging
boisterous
vsraucous
1 6.4

Very rough and stormy, with strong wind and big waves

is loud and unpleasant but not always violently agitated in nature
rasping
vsraucous
6.9

Harsh and rough in a way that hurts the ears

is loud and unpleasant but less about rough vocal texture
harsh-voiced
vsraucous
6.8

A voice or sound that is rough and unpleasant

is loud and unpleasant but not only about voice quality
unmelodious
vsraucous
8.0

Not having a pleasant, musical sound

is loud and unpleasant but not defined by lack of musicality
stridulous
vsraucous
9.9

Making a loud, harsh, grating sound like some insects make

is loud and unpleasant but not tied to creaking or tiny sources
rackety
vsraucous
7.4

Very loud and rough, like an old bus or a noisy crowd

is loud and unpleasant but not always uncontrolled or boisterous
roisterous
vsraucous
  • Archaic
8.7

Loud and lively in a wild way

is loud and unpleasant but is less often cheerful or lively
loudish
vsraucous
4.8

Making a little more noise than usual

is loud and unpleasant but more intense than this milder level

Antonyms

1.0

Not making much noise

182 1.0

Gentle and not strong for light or sound

How Loud

deafening
9 3.5
loud
733 1.0
noisy
125 1.0
raucous
31 7.1
soft
182 1.0
faint
148 2.7

Surface Forms

raucous positive
raucously positive

Morphology

raucous = rauc + ous

Although built with the productive adjective suffix '-ous', the root 'rauc' is not a recognizable English base for learners, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from known components.

Etymology

Raucous comes from the old Latin word raucus, which meant 'hoarse' or 'rough-sounding'. So, something described as raucous is loud and harsh to the ear.